Editor Chuck Willis is no longer with Crew Cuts, the bicoastal company in which he was a partner and co-founder….Santa Monica-based Cielo Films is closing. The production company’s founder Joanna Bongiovanni passed away in October (SHOOT, 10/31/03, p. 1) and was succeeded as executive producer by Fran Wall, whose plans weren’t known at press time….Director/cameraman Doug Coleman has joined New York-based Highway 61….Director/DP Miles Goodall of Suburban Films, Cape Town, has signed with BRW&Partners, Milan, for representation in Italy….The Entertainment Industry Development Corp. (EIDC), which oversees the joint Los Angeles City/County Film Office, has named Steve MacDonald as its president. MacDonald most recently ran the neighborhood City Hall in the south San Fernando Valley at the request of Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn….Cindy Nielson has been promoted from assistant editor to full-fledged editor at Chinagraph, New York….Looking to extend its reach on the East Coast, Hollywood-headquartered music design shop DeepMix has brought freelance producer Marc Morris on staff as its East Coast creative director….Shuffle Inc., a longstanding company with offices in Venice, Calif., and Tokyo, which is best known for producing commercials for the Japanese marketplace, has launched Shuffle USA. The new unit is looking to build its directorial roster for spotwork to be produced within North America for U.S. clients….Flame artist Aaron Vasquez and producer Michelle Seidenfrau have joined bicoastal Sideshow. Vasquez, who is based in the company’s New York shop, comes over from Postworks, New York. Seidenfrau was formerly an associate producer at ParallaxOne, New York….
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More